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National recognition for Gateshead’s care home project

A pioneering project to improve the health of care home residents in Gateshead has won national recognition as part of a national announcement by NHS England today.

The Gateshead Care Home Initiative, which is backed by NHS Gateshead Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and Gateshead Council, has been selected as one of 29 ‘vanguard’ areas within England.

The new status, which recognises the area’s success in reducing hospital admissions among the borough’s care home residents, puts the health service locally in the national spotlight as an example of good practice.

Dr Daniel Cowie, a local GP and clinical lead for the CCG, said: “This is an immense achievement and shows the tremendous work that GPs have done locally to help some of Gateshead’s most vulnerable residents.”

“Over the past two years, we have seen a 9% reduction in admissions to hospital from people living in care homes, and this new status will enable us to build on that and share what we have learned with other areas.”

Gateshead Care Home Initiative sees individual GP practices each allocated to a specific care home, making it possible to offer greater continuity of care and more effective prevention of illness through regular home visits, with the number of admissions dropping as a result.

Mark Adams, Chief Officer at Newcastle Gateshead Alliance, said: “I am delighted to see Gateshead’s success receive national recognition as we have made real progress in improving care for patients over the past two years.

“Vanguard status will allow us to go further and faster in improving the health of people living in care homes, with specialist support at national level.

“As part of the Newcastle Gateshead Alliance, we work closely with our colleagues in Newcastle, and this work can help inform the future development of services in Newcastle as well as share best practice nationally.